Finding Leadville Chapter 14: Race Reports and Journal Entries
- Barbara Mary
- Mar 16
- 9 min read
Updated: Mar 26
I signed up for a couple key races as training runs. Each one arrived with a tumble, and I summersaulted right in.
My coach organized training around each of these races to test out my legs, mind, nutrition, acclimation to altitude, and of course – endurance. I planned weekends around each of these trials not just for physical training, but also wanted to ensure that I could enjoy myself. “Arrive at the start line happy and healthy” was my main objective for each race – my main goal for Leadville, too.
The Leadville Marathon was my first event to tackle. Back in January, during the planning stages and registration clicks, I believed the June race would be ideal bluebird sky weather. But you cannot trust the mountain to behave. Instead, bank on it teasing you with a good time and sunshine and then turning on you right when you get comfortable. That was exactly what happened.
The night before the race, I met up with a crew of other racers: Cindi, Alex, and Lisa. It was raining softly by the time I arrived at the campground, a mere 5k or so away from the marathon start. As I rumbled up the dirt road and turned into the site, butterflies ignited in my belly, shooting around wildly. It hit me: my first ever mountain race, with people I didn’t know, in a place that was new to me, attempting car camping for the first time, and with perhaps the biggest and hairiest goal in mind ever.
Turning off the ignition, I took a moment. Breathe, Barbara. This is all part of the magic. This is it.
Exiting the Subaru, my hoodie pulled over my head and water bottle in hand, I scurried through the rain to the other car where a hand was reaching out the window and waving me in.
Within an instant, I was reminded of how special the running community is. Bonded together by a shared love of the trails – and having a good time on them – we had more than enough in common to be comfortable while crammed together in a vehicle, saying our hellos. My nerves evaporated. This was safe. This was easy.
The night was a wet one. We opted to car camp, which meant cocooning in my vehicle in many layers wrapped up by a sleeping bag. Not the most quality rest. When I awoke to the 4AM phone alarm, the windows of my old car were frosted. Shivering, I turned the key in the ignition right away to warm my car, so I could peel off layers and get my race kit on. Once warmed, dressed, and ready, I headed to the main campsite area.
There, Alex and Lisa were chatting over a steaming pot of hot water, and I poured myself a mug to add instant coffee to. Once dressed, fed, and caffeinated, we piled in Cindi's car, chatting about the weather and the course, noting that there would likely be snow and rain and hopefully a little sunshine.
I got sunshine on a cloudy day, sang Lisa.
We chimed in: When it’s cold outside, I got the month of May.
Smiling into each other’s eyes, we belted out: I guess you’d say, what could make me feel this way? LEADVILLE! Talking ‘bout Leadville…. LEADVILLE!
Falling into a fit of giggles, we brightened, loosening up any nerves still wiggling their way around our bellies.
We were ready to take on the Rocky Mountain trails.
Journal Entry
June 19th 6:47 AM
(After the Leadville Marathon)
Opted for my bicycle length shorts and long compression socks, a tank and neon half zip and a rain jacket. In my Osprey pack (1.5L): 4 Huma gels (100 cals each), 2 glukose packs (70 cals each), cliff bar (260 cal), 2 electrolyte/salt tabs. Ate it all throughout the race plus most of a bag of potato chips and a swig of coke at the top of Mosquito Pass (the halfway point).
It took me a couple miles to warm up once we started but as I did, I actually felt EASE power hiking the climbs. And I’m becoming a strong downhill runner so I could open up there. The challenges were in the weather! Wet snow, hail-like precipitation that clung to the ground and created sloppy mud as the day went along. I chatted up a couple dudes but mostly kept in my own head, heart and body. It wasn’t a full out 100% effort, but I ran hard, maybe closer to 75% – and ended the day as the 22nd woman overall! The skies cleared for me the last few miles and I finished happy and strong and with a smile.
I tweaked my ankle around mile 21 headed downhill like a maniac, but fortunately I caught myself and shook it out. (The icy creek by our campsite served as a recovery bath for my tender feet and wonky ankle later on). They announced my name when I rolled through the finish line, which is always a fun time! I collected my medal and canteen cup; Alex met me for a hug and “how’d you do” exchange. I was wet and getting colder by the second, so I got to my drop bags and changed under the bag tent as the rain decided to come down again in slants before turning again to snow. Huddled around a heater, I sipped a beer and cheered on the other runners.
Once all of us were in, we attempted to go to Mountain Pies, the best pizza in Leadville, but the wait was long and unappealing. I suggested pizza down the road in Buena Vista. In BV it was a full 15 degrees warmer, and the sun was out. We spent another night at the campsite, an equally cold and uncomfortable experience in my car.
Cindi and I ran 16 miles the next day, taking our time as we ran part of the Leadville 100 course up the road toward Powerline. My left foot was tricky, and my body wanted to go slow, but otherwise a fun run. Cindi kept me in good spirits. I ran out of water but thankfully she had plenty extra.
Once back up in Alma at 11k, I slept a solid 8 hours and had a bunch of dreams, all of which I can’t seem to grab onto in the light of day. But really, this race felt like a hazy crazy dream. Did we really just do that?
Journal Entry
June 11th, 7:02 AM
After a Trail Ragnar Weekend
After a weekend adventure in Snowmass CO (right by Aspen) I am back home in Alma. Nibbling a protein bagel with peanut butter and sipping coffee and still feeling the pulse from the Trail Ragnar weekend. I ended up running an extra loop – we had a team of eight and everyone was assigned 3 loops. However, a teammate faced shock due to the cold & the trails (she hadn’t quite done anything like this before) and she had to go to the ER in the middle of the night. Another teammate took her, leaving both of their early morning loops without a runner. So, at 5 AM, I got myself out of my warm-ish sleeping bag and tent in the not-so-warm, frosty morning and bundled up to do the green loop. 3.5 miles with 2 of those steady climbing. The trails took me right up to the ridge line where I could overlook Snowmass Village beneath the glow of sunrise. All the birds came out with me – singing and chattering, preparing for the day. Magnificent wildflowers everywhere you could look. Yellows and purples, sunshine and mountain majesty.
Trail Ragnars are long, exhausting, and incredible affairs. Our “homebase” was a campsite with two 4-person tents and an adjoining canopy tent. Beneath was a wagon filled with our food and snacks. A cot to catch snoozes on, stretch on, get ready to run on. Trash bag to collect wrappers and what not. Camp chairs in a semi-circle where the team sat and chatted and learned about each other.
We were called The Tuff Tatas. Me, the mountain goat, willing to take on the extra miles for training. Lisa, the team captain, breast cancer survivor, and army spouse. She had a permanent smile, a good attitude, and lots of advice on credit card points. Brianna, an army nurse, small and lively and one of my favorites in the group. She was witty and quick to speak, asking questions and nudging stories out of everyone. She dubbed me “mountain goat.” Naomi, who picked me up from my cabin, also an army spouse and a seasoned triathlete and skilled engineer. She seems to breathe the trueness of nature, enjoying the outdoors, and off-the-grid adventure. She told a story, unphased, of how she and her partner barely evaded a dangerous lightning storm with full packs of heavy gear. Ann, the mom to a special needs daughter and a talkative ball of energy. I leaned in when I could and leaned out when I needed to. Then there’s Stephanie, the comedian of the crew. Loud-mouthed and vibrant, hoarse from a recent bout of sickness, she sipped white claw out of her Nalgene throughout the afternoon and again in the morning. She told stories of raising kids, running a day care, and where to hike to nude hot springs. Laura was a quieter presence, and I was drawn to her peacefulness. A software engineer who works in satellite imaging and seemed to have a true delight in the weekend’s events. She didn’t sleep a wink. Finally, Alexis, the one who had to go to the ER, was a spunky spirit. She had a playful go-with-the-flow attitude, starting with her saying yes to running a Ragnar and not knowing what it was!
I was the 8th and last runner. The day started (Friday) with Brianna taking off on the green loop and then went Laura, the Stephanie, Alexis then Naomi, Anne, Lisa, and finally me. I did the yellow first. 4.4 miles that gave a series of switchbacks and offered a fun, loping mountain bike path downhill where I could really open up my legs and go. My second leg was around 1:30 AM, the green loop at 3.5 miles. I was steady eddy going up in the dark – my headlamp worked well enough and fits just fine on my hat. It was a thrill to run in the middle of the night, albeit cold when I was just standing around waiting to go.
Two hours later, I was running the same loop again for Alexis. I got to rest up for a while after, enjoy the morning and my teammates, snack and sip on coffee before going out on the red loop and my favorite of the three. 6.6 miles that brought me 1000 feet up before the delicious reward of 1000 feet down! I really am getting more skilled at downhill running and can feel my quads growing in much-needed strength. I’ll need that for the Leadville 100.
Journal Entry:
June 14th, 6:23 AM
I've been here for over two months now. There is a disruption in my body. I felt it in bed as I fell asleep and as I slept, I feel it now, I’m sure it’s what has woken me up. This cabin is holding something -- or I am. I keep trying to settle my mind and trust how all this will unfold. But I'm restless it seems.
Yesterday, I stopped at a crystal shop. I picked up selenite for the doorways of this home, to cleanse and clear the energy. I also got two pieces of tourmaline – the protective stone – one for around my neck and the other for atop the coffee table with my tarot cards, the smudge stick, the candle I light each morning. I also picked up mahogany obsidian – “to strengthen the aura, protect against repeating problems.” The young man at the shop, Noah, was lovely.
Chris texted me. He got his ticket to CO! He’ll be visiting July 7th-11th for the Silver Rush 50 miler. I get to share this with him. We can do this. He really does give me the space I need (clearly!) and he’s learning how to support my running adventures. I can give him space too and I’m learning how to better support him, and his music. The more I step into myself, do my own work -- the more fiercely I can love him. Maybe we’ll make it. Maybe we’ll be okay. I can be free, alive, independent, all alongside Chris.
My soul chose Chris for many reasons. He doesn’t harbor expectations of me. I love his punk rock persona, his metal creativity, his long hair attitude. I know I project everything I ever learned from men, from my father, my upbringing onto him. Can I keep catching those projections? Can I keep learning how to adore all that I am? No external validation needed?
Sarah, my sister, has called me several times already. I am lit up by her – her awareness of the patriarchy and misogyny, how us women have been looked at in a certain light. The expectation to be pretty – not hot! Sweet – never sour! Nurturing – not sexy! But hell – I am hot and sometimes sour and I’m sexy and independent and ALIVE. I promise to keep exploring what it means to me to be a woman. To hold sacred the divine feminine. To exhibit strength and softness, fatigue and energy, joy and pain, beauty and function.
My body is wondrous. How she moves, how she works, how she plays. How she alerts me to the energy of the world around me, skin sensing and picking up subtleties and wavelengths. Beauty. Strength. Desire. Pleasure. All my own. No one else's.
All the goodness I want to feel toward myself, I already have inside of me.
How I Love
I love
in the way
the ocean does:
lapping the shore
in adoration
then retreating
back to one's
sure self,
always to
return
then leave
again
and again.
Such perfect performance understanding.